Dobbs Takes Rating Hit

This restores my faith in the maxim: "talk like an idiot, lose some of your ratings."

According to analysis of Nielsen data by the New York Observer, as criticism of Lou Dobbs has continued to rise over his questioning of President Obama's citizenship, his ratings at CNN have continued to go down.

In fact, Dobbs' audience has decreased 15% in total viewers and 27% in the all important age 25 to 54 demographic group since the start of the controversy.

Dobbs will of course spin this that he is a martyr and his "free speech" rights are under attack. Not quite. Aligning yourself with the most fringe element of the wacko Right and providing a forum to conspiracy theorists has consequences.

While stirring up controversy and public outcry is a time-tested method in cable news of juicing your ratings, for Dobbs it's FAIL.

Source: NY Observer